Hands-off low-air-loss quick-connect quick-disconnect fast-fill dunnage bag filling valve-nozzle assembly & system

Abstract

Problems of filling dunnage bags for cushioning loads in transit in trailers, railroad cars, and the like, with air are resolved by this improved air filling bag valve and nozzle. In several respects the valves are superior in operation, wasting less air and filling time, and are less tiring for operators to use. For example, this nozzle simply slides laterally into place on the dunnage bag valve stem and locks itself there for hands off filling without manual pressure to press the nozzle axially against dunnage bag valve stems to open them, which is fatiguing with arms outstretched in the crowded spaces available. Damage is reduced that may result to dunnage bags when the filling nozzles are removed against the pressure of adjacent filled dunning bags and are withdrawn. These nozzles are simply pulled out laterally by the attached hose. The novel valve operation provides for opening of the dunnage bag valve stem by means of air pressure rather than manual force heretofore required for moving the valve stem axially into open position and holding it there. The filling valve provides air for filling the dunnage bag at a suitable pressure for rapid filling without danger of bursting the bags. Also the valve is connected to fill the dunnage bag with substantially no loss of air thus making operating costs lower.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A quick connect dunnage bag filling valve system, comprising in combination: an air filling valve fitting for mating with a dunnage bag inflation valve fitting protruding from a dunnage bag for actuating said inflation valve and inflating said dunnage bag, said inflation valve fitting having a housing stem coaxially surrounding an axially movable valve mechanism spring biased to retain air in the dunnage bag and corresponding interlocking housing stem structure adapted to receive and align the inflation valve fitting with a mating air filling valve assembly for overcoming spring bias of the axially movable valve mechanism and for introducing pressurized air into the dunnage bag, and   a housing for the air filling valve assembly defining a nozzle and air inlet opening further having interlocking engagement structure adapting the air filling valve to move the nozzle laterally from a direction substantially normal to the axially movable valve mechanism of the inflation valve into aligned interfitting engagement with said inflation valve suitable for introducing air into the dunnage bag.   
     
     
       2. The bag filling valve system of claim 1 further comprising locking means on the air filling valve assembly for mating with the stem interlocking structure to hold the air filling nozzle in said aligned interfitting engagement without substantial movement of the air filling nozzle in the axial direction of the axially movable inflation valve mechanism. 
     
     
       3. The bag filling valve system of claim 2 wherein the locking means comprises mating tongue and groove structure on the respective filling valve housing and the inflation valve stem. 
     
     
       4. The bag filling valve system of claim 2 further comprising air filling valve structure in said housing for presenting air under pressure flowing from the air filling valve to move said axially movable inflation valve mechanism axially into a position for introducing air into the dunnage bag. 
     
     
       5. The bag filling valve system of claim 4 further comprising an internal movable plunger in said housing, and air flow structure providing an initial air flow path to this movable plunger at a high pressure for overcoming the inflation valve mechanism spring bias and diversion of the air flow path upon movement of the plunger to a lower pressure air flow path into the dunnage bag for filling. 
     
     
       6. The bag filling valve system of claim 5 further comprising a biasing spring retaining the movable plunger into a position blocking air flow through the bag filling nozzle below a predetermined threshold pressure of input air. 
     
     
       7. The bag filling valve system of claim 5 further comprising air flow sealing means in said bag filling valve system diverted by said movable plunger to substantially prevent flow of air through the filling valve nozzle before the inflation valve mechanism is fully opened to pass air into the bag. 
     
     
       8. The bag filling valve system of claim 1 wherein the housing valve engagement nozzle structure further comprises a substantially cylindrical cavity for partially surrounding the inflation valve stem thereby defining a converging entryway for guiding the inflation valve laterally into said aligned engagement with said substantially cylindrical cavity. 
     
     
       9. The bag filling valve system of claim 1 wherein said inflation valve stem defines a cylindrical engagement lip for sealing to a filling valve nozzle for receiving airflow into the dunnage bag, and mating cylindrical structure within said filling bag housing for substantially air tight sealing with the stem. 
     
     
       10. The bag filling valve system of claim 1 further comprising in the filling valve fitting an internal movable plunger movable to engage and overcome the inflation valve spring bias in response to air from a high pressure source flowing into said filling valve. 
     
     
       11. The bag filling valve system of claim 10 further comprising a bias spring in said filling valve retarding the movement of said internal movable plunger in the absence of a predetermined air pressure value at said inlet opening. 
     
     
       12. The bag filling valve system of claim 10 further comprising an air flow passageway in the interior of said filling valve housing for directing air from a high pressure source coupled to said inlet opening into an air flow path operable to first move the internal movable plunger toward a position to open the inflation valve for entry of air into a dunnage bag. 
     
     
       13. The bag filling valve system of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises in combination: a cylindrical cavity structure coupled to the air inlet opening and closed at one end from which an axial post extends internally toward the nozzle, an internal plunger defining a central bore riding snugly upon said axial post, said plunger further defining a diaphragm for resting upon the closed cavity end and sealed about its periphery to the cylindrical cavity by an O-ring, and said plunger having about the central bore a shouldered body with a reduced diameter nozzle opening, with an O-ring about the circumference of the reduced diameter portion aligned for engaging and sealing the stem of the inflation valve as the reduced diameter portion enters the inflation valve stem to open the movable valve mechanism for entry of air into the dunnage bag. 
     
     
       14. The bag filling valve system of claim 13 further comprising air passageway structure between the central bore of the internal plunger and the axial post of restricted cross section for filling the dunnage bag at a lower pressure than that required to open the inflation valve. 
     
     
       15. The bag filling valve system of claim 14 further comprising a closure body for said cylindrical cavity having a central nozzle bore and locking means for engaging mating structure on the inflation valve stem by lateral movement towards the axially movable inflation valve mechanism to lock the filling valve in said aligned engagement without substantial movement in the axial direction of the axially moveable inflation valve mechanism. 
     
     
       16. The bag filling valve system of claim 15 wherein the housing valve engagement structure further comprises a substantially cylindrical cavity for partially surrounding the inflation valve stem opening on a cylindrical sidewall to define a diverging entryway for guiding the filling valve into said aligned engagement in said substantially cylindrical cavity. 
     
     
       17. The air nozzle assembly of claim 1 further comprising a disc-like valve body shape of a thickness not exceeding one and one-half inch. 
     
     
       18. A quick connect dunnage bag filling valve system, comprising in combination: a air filling valve fitting with a nozzle adapted to mate with an air bag inflation valve fitting protruding from a dunnage bag to actuate said inflation valve and to inflate said dunnage bag, said inflation valve fitting having a stem coaxially surrounding an axially movable valve mechanism spring biased to retain air in the dunnage bag and corresponding stem structure adapted to receive and align therewith a mating air filling valve assembly for introducing pressurized air into the dunnage bag, and   internal air flow passageway structure in the air fling valve nozzle and corresponding means responsive to air pressure of a predetermined magnitude for opening the inflation valve spring biased mechanism to open an air passageway into said dunnage bag in response to the presence of said air pressure magnitude at said air filling valve.   
     
     
       19. The bag filling valve system of claim 18 further comprising a housing for the air filling valve fitting having valve engagement structure adapting the air filling valve to move laterally from a direction substantially normal to the axially movable valve mechanism of the inflation valve into aligned engagement with said inflation Valve for retained residence while introducing air into the dunnage bag. 
     
     
       20. The bag filling valve system of claim 18 wherein said corresponding means further comprises an air actuated movable plunger that enters the inflation valve stem to overcome the inflation valve movable valve mechanism spring bias and move it into an open position. 
     
     
       21. The air nozzle assembly of claim 18 further comprising a disc-like valve body shape of a thickness not exceeding one and one-half inch. 
     
     
       22. An air nozzle assembly for filling dunnage bags having stems containing an axially movable inflation valve spring biased to urge a dunnage bar inflation valve into closed position retaining air obtained from a pressurized air supply source in the bags, comprising in combination: a nozzle for aligning with the inflation valve to provide air for a dunnage bag from said supply source, an air pressure actuated movable plunger within said nozzle operable in response to said pressurized air functioning as valve means to move the dunnage bag inflation valve into an open position for admitting air from the source into the dunnage bag and pressure reducing means for supplying dunnage bag air at air pressure lower than that supplied from the source to move said plunger.   
     
     
       23. A air nozzle assembly for filling dunnage bags having stems containing an axially movable inflation valve spring biased to urge the valves into closed position retaining air in the bags, comprising in combination: a nozzle for aligning with the inflation valve to provide air, an air pressure actuated plunger within said nozzle operable to move the dunnage bag inflation valves into open position for admitting air into the dunnage bag, and interlocking means on the air nozzle assembly and dunnage bag valves for aligning by lateral movement between the nozzle and valve the nozzle in place to deliver air to the dunnage bag through said inflation valve without axial movement of the aligned nozzle assembly.